Ornamental plaque and method of making the same.



M. J. McLAUGHLlN.

ORNAMENTAL PLAQUE AND METHOD oF MAKING THE SAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, 1916.

Patented July 16, 1918. I

' 7.,.. m I N V E N TGR E c JWM (MMMAUA BY l f M51/ l wrrNEssEs ATTORNEY @FIQ Y ORNAMENTALPLAQUE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1918.

Appucation med March 2s, 1916. serial No. 87,263.

' To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL J. MOLAUGH- LIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ornamental Plaques and Methods of Making the Same, of which the following is a specification.

An object of my invention is' to provide an ornamental plaque consisting of a transparent sheet or plate having a printed or other picture or design faced thereagainst and backed up by a cast material which not only fills in the plaque to give the proper strength and thickness thereto, but also forms a filler to make a background for the pictorial representation or design, should the same be of a Size smaller' than the dimensions of the glass or other transparent sheet or plate, or should the design present cut out portions.

A further object lies in constructing the plaque in such a manner that the pictorial representation or design is hermetically sealed between the transparent sheet or plate and the cast backing and filling material, and in the provision of a covering for the edges of the transparent sheet or plate and the lilling material which will exclude air and moisture from finding its way between the two layers of the plaque, thus making a plaque which will have a comparatively long life without deterioration.

A still further object is to provide a process by which ornamental plaques may be artistically and expeditiously produced with the results as above set forth.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consi-sts in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts which will be hereinafter set forth in connection with the drawings and then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure lis a. View in elevation of a plaque constructed in accordance with my inven-V tion.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through a mold having a plaque therein.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form which the invention might take.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through the edge of a plaque constructed in a manner slightly different from the disclosure in Figs. 1 and 2.

As is here shown, the plaque comprises the transparent sheet or plate 1 which is preferably glass, having a pictorial representation or design printed or otherwise shown on the sheet 2, placed thereon, and a backing material 3, which is hereinafter described as plaster of Paris is cast or otherwise placed over the sheet 1 to back up the same and to lill in any cut out portions or spaces which may be left in the design.

As is shown in Fig. 2, a mold 4, partaking of a form of a pan has a recess or rim depression 5 in the bottom adjacent the side wall and by placing the transparent sheet or plate upon the bottom and casting the backing material 3 inthe mold, a molded rim 6 is provided around the plaque which establishs a hermetical sealing between the sheet l and the backing material.

In ythe disclosure in Fig. 3, the sheet 6 is shown as placed directly on the bottom of the mold 7 and the backing material 8 is cast in the mold to form a backing for the sheet 6 and to ll in any cut out or vacant spaces of the sheet to bring the entire surface level with the front surface of the sheet 6.

With the form of lthe structure as shown in Fig. 4, the transparent sheet or plate 9 has the printed sheet 10 placed face down thereon and with this sheet or plate 9 laid substantially level the backing material l1 is poured or cast thereon, this form of the devicepresenting the open edge or seam between the transparent plate 9 and the backing material 1l. To hermetically seal this seam 'between the two materials, a layer of material or a coating of paint or other material of a somewhat thick consistency is applied as indicated at l2 around the edges of the sheet or plate 9 and the backing material 1l, and in this way the seam between these respective layers is sealed to prevent access of air or moisture.

In accomplishing the manufacture of plaques as set forth above, where molds are employed, it is preferable that the pans or molds-be of the so-called enameled metal ware, these molds being either made special or procured as stock pans now on the market. The picture or design, which is prefer-ably printed or otherwise shown on a sheet of paper is then cut out so that only those portions Which are desired to appear in the finished plaque remain, and this sheet is then mostened and placed face down, after which the sheet is smoothed out with 'the hands or yby the use of a damp sponge or rag in order backing material is then mixed to the proper f consistency to iflow freely fbe'fore setting, the` proper mixture in the use of plaster of Paris being about equal quantities of the dry plaster and of water, and this lfreely flowing mixture isthen cast'over the sheet. It will of course be understood ythat care vmust lloc exercised .to vlicensure,that the plaster orother backing .material is of substantially equal thickness throughout all parts of :the plaque, and then when the plaster has Ybeen .applied to the proper depth, the cord, tape, or other hangermaterial 13 be embedded in the plaster so that as the plasterhardens or sets, thishanger vwill be secured in placeand lthen when the plaque has remained for a sulficieiit length of time thatfthe plaster of Paris or other backing .material has set thoroughly, .the plaque may be removed from the mold v and the hangerA 13 may be used ,to suspend the same trom the wall.

In constructing the hermetically sealedY plaque as is ,Shown in. Fig. 2,-th e.transparent sheet or plate I1 is made .of a sizeto tit withinthcmold 1n a relation that the edges thereof areV slightly separated liirom the edges or side walls of the mold, thus leaving rthe rim depression 5 uncovered. The sheet bearing the design or pictorial representation is ,pre- Pared as above set forth and ,after l being moistened is placed on the sheet or plate 1,

this sheet 2 being smoothed down bythe use of the hands QI' .by the use of a wet or moist Sponge or rag- .The plaster of 'Paris or other ,backing material is mixed to beof the 1proper consistency and is then poured into' vthe mold 4 to the lproper depth, and by reason oi' the fact that this backing material in' a semi-fluid state .and flows Ifreely, `the backing material will iind its way into the rim depression 5 and will rise up along the edge of ithe sheet or plate v1, at the same time filling in over the sheet 2, and in vthis way a hermetically `sealed ,joint is provided between nthe sheet l and vthe backing material 3.

. The Aprocess used inaccomplishing lthe result shown in Fig. L differs slightly from those hereinbefore set 'forth in .that it is not absolutely essentiel that a mold be employed, and in the accorrlplaliment,oitl thsxprocess, l-liesheot ior plate .9 is placed upon o sapport in a substantlally horizontal and level relation, .the .Sheet 10"is then .mcstened and place-dion the oppor slde rofthe,sheet e after which its is pressed Vout smoothed 'as above set forth, and the plaster backing material is then cast over the sheet 10 and on the uppersideo'the .sheet or plate 9 by being poured, the spreading of the semiliquid backing-material causing the same to -flow over the back of the sheet 9 and at the to run over in a gradual curve as and the backing material .'11 at the edges therof, ,so that the herlletcal `Seal Cannot be broken by the airsor lmoisture finding its way through this seam between the trans.

parent sheet 9 and the backing material -to canse separation oiz .the saule.

llhi-le l have ,herein shown `and described only ,particular lionne of the nslicd product as accomplished, and only certain methods and processes olf accomplishing this linshed product have .been Set forth, it will be 111.1- derstood that modifications and variations might be made in the plaque and the method of making the same, and hence I do not wish to be limitedto the exact disclosure but only to suchV points may be set iforth in .the claims.

l claim:-

1- Ao ornamental plaque ,comprising transparent sheet, a sheethaving av pictorial representation thereon placed against said transparentsheet, and a `backing of arnold.-

materia-l placed over the pictorial sheet and the transparent sheet to extend 4around the edges thereof.

2. The method of making hermetic-ahy sealed ornamental plaquesI consisting of placing pictorial representations or ldesigns upon a transparent sheet, locating saidsh-eet in a mold, and casting a backing material to cover over the pictorial representation or design and' the Aback of the sheet, aft the same time to mold around the edge of the transparent sheet'to establish ,a hermetical seal between the transparent sheet and the backing material. Y

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J. MCLaUdH-Mu Witnesses.: Y y

MQLAUGHLIN, KATH'nR-LNE Grosr.

Copies ptthispatent' may .be obtained "forfve cents eaclnby addressing the Commissioner 'et Entente,

Washington, 1),. Gif 

